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Review: ‘Big, the Musical’ at El Centro Theatre

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A bittersweet take on growing up -- with all the ambivalence it entails for children and adults alike -- ‘Big, the Musical’ is a much better show than its short 1996 Broadway run might suggest. An engaging, intimately scaled staging from West Coast Ensemble captures its essential charms, albeit at some sacrifice of grandeur.

Adapted from the 1988 hit film about a 12-year-old boy who magically ages overnight into a man’s body, this version features a deftly crafted score by ‘Baby’ co-creators David Shire and Richard Maltby Jr. and book by John Weidman.

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Veteran contemporary musical director Richard Israel draws particularly appealing performances from Will Collyer in the central role of man-child Josh Baskin and Darrin Revitz as Susan, the corporate climber who’s seduced by Baskin’s refreshing innocence and lack of guile.

The staging sports innovation amid its budgetary trade-offs -- the giant painted keyboard isn’t driven by MIDI and lights during the toy store number; instead, the ensemble provides the vocal accompaniment. Daniel Thomas performs full-sounding synthesized orchestration, and Christine Lakin’s original choreography effectively adapts the small stage. Faced with the challenge posed by the requirement for both young and adult actors, there’s a wide range in talent, even with the cast pared from 31 to 16.

There are plot holes, unanswered questions and an abrupt ending that Weidman’s book doesn’t attempt to resolve. But the pitch here is to the felt, rather than logical, truths. In Maltby’s deceptively breezy lyrics the characters have more freedom to explore their inner states than the movie allowed, and Shire’s upbeat pop melodies capture the story’s romanticism, from overblown adolescent traumas to the rediscovery of wonder in the most jaded hearts.

--Philip Brandes

Big, the Musical,’ El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave., Hollywood. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. Ends June 28. $30. (323) 460-4443. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes.

Caption: Will Collyer, left, and Larry Lederman in ‘Big, the Musical’ Credit: Ty Donaldson

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